China has significantly advanced its artificial intelligence cybersecurity capabilities, narrowing the gap with leading U.S. developers and raising new concerns about the intensifying technological competition between the world’s two largest economies.
Executives from Beijing-based technology companies 360 Security Technology and Z.ai, formerly known as Zhipu AI, say their latest AI-powered cybersecurity tools are approaching the capabilities of leading American systems designed to identify software vulnerabilities.
Speaking at a cybersecurity conference in Beijing, 360 Security Chief Executive Zhou Hongyi said the company’s bug-finding system, called Tulongfeng, is now comparable to Anthropic’s Mythos model, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“This kind of powerful weapon that can alter the landscape of cyberwarfare can’t remain solely in American hands,” Zhou said.
AI-powered bug detection systems can rapidly identify vulnerabilities in computer software. Security researchers use the technology to discover and fix flaws before they are exploited, though experts have also warned that the same capabilities could be used by malicious actors to identify weaknesses for cyberattacks.
Despite China’s advances in cybersecurity-focused AI, analysts say the country continues to trail U.S. firms in broader artificial intelligence capabilities, including consumer products developed by OpenAI.
The developments come as the Trump administration has increased oversight of advanced AI systems amid growing national security concerns.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a framework allowing the federal government to review the national security risks of the most advanced artificial intelligence models before their broader release.
OpenAI announced Friday that it would limit access to its newest AI model, GPT-5.6 Sol, to customers approved by the administration while the review process continues.
Anthropic also said the administration approved a limited release of its cybersecurity-focused Mythos 5 model after restrictions temporarily prevented wider deployment.
Some technology experts have questioned whether limiting access to advanced American AI systems could unintentionally benefit Chinese competitors.
Niels Provos, a cybersecurity researcher who previously led security teams at Google and Stripe, told The Wall Street Journal the restrictions could encourage organizations worldwide to adopt Chinese alternatives.
“It is incentivizing companies across the globe to use cheaper but very capable Chinese open-weight models, while at the same time undermining the U.S. AI industry,” Provos said.
Lior Div, chief executive of cybersecurity company 7AI, said China continues reducing the technological gap.
“They’re making sure that the gap becomes smaller and smaller over time,” Div said.
The debate has also extended to export policies. Critics have questioned decisions allowing certain AI chips to reach China while restrictions remain in place on some advanced U.S. AI models, arguing the combination could strengthen Beijing’s position in the rapidly evolving field, per the Daily Mail.
The White House said Friday it continues working with leading AI developers to address security concerns surrounding frontier artificial intelligence systems.
Officials have expressed particular concern about models capable of rapidly discovering software vulnerabilities that could potentially be weaponized against critical infrastructure or government networks.
Administration officials said the current review process is intended to balance innovation with national security while determining appropriate safeguards for increasingly capable AI technologies as competition with China continues to intensify.
